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Germany

Truck driving restrictions

Basic information


Sundays and public holidays from 00:00 to 22.00

Vehicles


heavy goods vehicles of over 7.5t maximum permitted weight (MPW), as well as trucks with trailers

Applies to roads


throughout the road network

Detailed information


Night driving ban: There are a number of certain regional and local night driving restrictions on some routes which are indicated by road signs.


Additional driving restrictions:

for special transport throughout the year there is a ban on using motorways at the weekends from 15.00 on Fridays to 9.00 on Mondays. From 1st July to 31st August, as well as from Maundy Thursday to the Tuesday after Easter and from the Friday preceding Pentecost (Whit Sunday) to the Tuesday after the holiday, the traffic of such vehicles is permitted only at night from 23.00 to 6.00.


Environmental zones:

Since 1st March 2007 new regulations have been in effect in Germany, which allow the local districts and cities to establish so-called environmental zones. Within these environmental zones there might be used means of protection against noise such as protective screens, or traffic bans concerning certain types of vehicles depending on emission in order to prevent air pollution.

Since 2008 environmental zones have been established in the following municipalities:

Berlin, Bochum, Bottrop, Bremen, Dortmund, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt/Main, Gelsenkirchen, Hanover, Heilbronn, Herrenberg, Ilsfeld, Karlsruhe, Köln, Leonberg, Ludwigsburg, Mannheim, Mühlacker, Mühlheim/Ruhr, Munich, Neu-Ulm, Oberhausen, Pforzheim, Pleidelsheim, Recklinghausen, Reutlingen, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Stuttgart, Tübingen, Ulm oraz Wuppertal.

Since 2009 similar zones have been also established in Augsburgu, Münster and Regensburgu;

Since 2010 in Freiburgu (Breisgau), Heidelbergu, Herne, Osnabrück and Pfinztal.

Since 1st March 2011 – Leipzig, since 1st July 2011 – Markgröningen.

For Brunszwik, Darmstadt, Dresden and Magdeburg the date has not been set yet. In other cities, e.g. Postdam, Cottbus, Frankfurt (Oder), Brandenburg/Havel, Halle/Saale and Bernau due to excess concentration of solids over a period of 35 days in the year, there is a possibility of the introduction of the environmental zones.


Local bans:

For some cities, such as e.g. Munich, Stuttgart and Darmstadt, apart from the planned environmental zones, additional bans apply. These concern transit traffic of heavy goods vehicles of over 3.5t MPW in order to reduce the level of noise and air pollution or to prevent traffic of vehicles which evade paying tolls.


ADDITIONAL SUMMER BANS

On Saturdays between 1st July and 31st August from 7.00 to 20.00


The following stretches of motorway and trunk roads:

  • A1: from the Köln-West (west) and Leverkusen-West (west) via Wuppertal, the Kamen/ Münster intersection to the Lohne/Dinklage junction
  • A2: from the Oberhausen intersection to the Bad Oeynhausen intersection
  • A3: from the Oberhausen intersection to the Köln-Ost (east) intersection, from the Mönchhof intersection via the Frankfurt intersection to the Nürnberg intersection
  • A5: from the Darmstadt intersection to the Karlsruhe-Süd und from the Offenburg intersection to the Neuenburg intersection
  • A6: from the Schwetzingen – Hockenheim junction to the Nürnberg-Süd (south) intersection
  • A7: from the Schleswig/Jagel junction to the Hamburg – Schnelsen-Nord (north) junction, from the Soltau-Süd junction to the Göttingen-Nord (north) junction; from the Schweinfurt/Werneck intersection, the Biebelried intersection, the Ulm/Elchingen intersection and the Allgäu intersection to the state border in Füssen
  • A8: from the Karlsruhe intersection to the München-Obermenzing junction and from the München -Ramersdorf junction to the Bad Reichenhall junction
  • A9/E51: Berlin ring road (Leipzig/Potsdam intersection) to the München – Schwabing junction
  • A10 Berliner Ring, from the Oranienburg interchange via the Pankow interchange to the Barnim interchange and from the Werder interchange to the Berlin Spandau junction
  • A45: from the Dortmund-Süd (south) junction via the Westhof intersection and the Gambach intersection to the Seligenstadt intersection
  • A61: from the Meckenheim intersection via the Koblenz intersection to the Hockenheim intersection
  • A81: from the Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen intersection to the Gärtringen junction
  • A92: from the München – Feldmoching intersection to the Oberschleissheim junction and from the Neufahrn intersection to the Erding junction
  • A93: from the Inntal intersection to the Reischenhart junction
  • A99: from the München Süd-West (south-west) intersection via the intersections in München-West (west), München -Allach, München Feldmoching, München-Nord (north), Munich-Ost (east), München-Süd (south) and Munich/Eschenried
  • A215: from the Bordesholm intersection to the Blumenthal junction
  • A831: from the Stuttgart-Vaihingen junction to the Stuttgart motorway intersection
  • A980: from the Allgäu intersection to the Waltenhofen junction
  • A995: from the Sauerlach junction to the München-Süd (south) intersection
  • B31: from the Stockach-Ost (east) junction of the A98 motorway to the Sigmarszell junction of the A96 motorway
  • B96/E251: from Neubrandenburg ring road to Berlin

Exceptions

  • 1. Combined rail/road goods transport from the loading point to the forwarder to the nearest unloading station or to the consignee, only if the distance is up to 200km
  • 2. Combined sea/road goods transport between the place of loading or unloading and an airport situated at a distance of 150km in a straight line
  • 3. Transport of fresh milk and dairy products, fresh meat and fresh meat products, fresh fish, live fish and fresh fish products, perishable fruit and vegetables (in accordance with the directive of the Ministry of Transport of 31st July 1998 Road Code 12/36.42.30 on the definition of fresh and perishable foodstuffs within the meaning of § 30 paragraph 3 sentence 2 No.2 of Road Traffic Regulations and § 3. 1 No. 2 of Rules on Holiday Travel)
  • 4. Empty runs, in connection with the transport operations mentioned under point 3
  • 5. Tractor units regardless of the MPW which are used only for pulling other vehicles
  • 6. Tractor units of over 7.5t MPW
  • 7. Tractors with an additional loading space of the total loading capacity not exceeding 40% of the MPW
  • 8. Vehicles in which the goods being transported are part of the vehicle equipment (e.g. exhibition or movie vehicles)

Exempted from the ban are also vehicles belonging to the police, the border guard, the fire brigade and emergency services, the federal armed forces and allied troops.

In case of operations not mentioned in the above exceptions, authorisations must be obtained. These, however, will be issued only in the event of an emergency, when delivery by other means of transport is not possible.

On defined regional public holidays, during which there is a traffic ban, e.g. All Saints’ Day, Reformation Day, Corpus Christi, there is, by and large, no possibility of heavy goods vehicles traffic on state roads. There is, however, an exception if special authorisations are obtained allowing traffic on a defined route section.

Such authorisations are issued on regular basis in transit traffic on certain motorways heading to and from Berlin on Reformation Day (31st October).


transit traffic to and from Berlin in the Reformation Day

On the basis of a special authorization granted by the Administration of the Senate of Berlin dated 19.09.2016 for the federal states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia the following sections of roads to and from Berlin in the above regions may be passable on 31.10.2016 and 2018 -2020 hours 0:00 do22: 00: - a 2, a 20, a 24, a 4, a 9, a 10, a 11, a 12, a 13, a 14, a 15, a 17, a 19 , A 38, A 71, A 72, A 73, A 111, A 113, A 114, A 115, A 117, A 143


Exiting the motorway in the aforementioned provinces, in which a holiday driving ban is in effect, is impermissible. The ban, however, does not apply if there is a complete closure of a motorway due to an accident or road works. In such a case, one should make a detour. In the absence of thereof, one should move to the next approach of the motorway along the shortest path. The vehicle can also leave the motorway when it must be towed, in accordance with §15 of the rules of the road, to the nearest specific place issued by the superior.


ATTENTION!

Since February 1th there is a ban for vehicles with MPW over 3.5 tonnes in southern bypass of Würzburg.


ATTENTION!

Since 20th April 2010 in North Hessen there is a night driving ban on heavy goods vehicles on roads B3 and B252.

The night driving ban is in effect from 22:00 to 6:00 for vehicles of over 3.5t MPW on the stretch of the B3 road between Borken and Colbe, as well as on the stretch of the B252 road between Diemelstadt and Lahntal-Gottingen. The ban is aimed at protecting the residents from noise at night.

Entrepreneurs from the districts of Marburg-Biedenkopf, Waldeck-Frankenberg, Schwalm-Eder and Hochsauerland can still commute to their firms, yet they should organise the work in their companies so as to reduce the number of night runs. In order to reduce transit traffic, the police will intensively monitor these road stretches.

Due to the introduction of new regulations, the 24-hour transit ban on vehicles of over 12t MPW ceases to have effect. It was in force only on the basis of a clause introduced at trial. The regulation, in force from 2006, was abolished at the end of 2009 by the court in Kassel as a result of complaints from logistics companies.


Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia coordinate truck traffic on 31 October and 1 November


This solution has been implemented to avoid situations in which the traffic ban for heavy goods vehicles applies on two consecutive public holidays, i.e. on Reformation Day (October 31) in Lower Saxony and on All Saints Day (1.11 ) in North Rhine-Westphalia.

In the years 2020-2025, the traffic ban for vehicles with a MAM of over 7.5 tons on both holidays will apply only from 6:00 to 22:00. Moreover, on the day when there is a state holiday in one of the federal states, HGVs will able allowed to use the main transit routes, i.e. A1, A2, A30, A31 and A33 from 6:00 to 22:00. This rule will also apply if All Saints Day or Reformation Day falls on a Sunday.

The list of transit routes where heavy goods traffic is permitted between 6.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m. on state holidays observed in a given state:

  • A1 - From the Lotte / Osnabrück motorway junction to the border between North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony at the Osnabrück-Nord junction and in the opposite direction.
  • A2 - From the Bad Oeynhausen motorway junction to the border between Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt and in the opposite direction.
  • A30 - From the Bad Bentheim border crossing to the Bad Oeynhausen junction (A2 motorway) and in the opposite direction.
  • A31 - From the Schüttorf motorway junction to the border between Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia and in the opposite direction.
  • A33 - From the Osnabrück-Süd junction to the Dissen-Süd junction and in the opposite direction.

Holidays


Public holidays 2026


  • 1st January - New Year's Day
  • 18th April - Good Friday
  • 21st April - Easter Monday
  • 1st May - May Day
  • 29th May - Ascension Day
  • 9th June - Whit Monday
  • 3rd October - Day of German Unity
  • 25th December - Christmas Day
  • 26th December - Boxing Day

Tires


Tires

Depending on the situation on road.


Chains

A fitting obligation in places marked. Tires with spikes prohibited. Exception: small German triangle, Bad Reichenhall – Lofer and borderland of the customs.

20 Euro for incorrect tires, 40 Euro for difficulties arising from bad tires and 1 penalty point


Source: Continental Information Service

Good to know


Note: Drivers of heavy goods vehicles should possess and use reflective vests.

A non-compliance with the regulations is fined 40 – 200 Euro.


The maximum blood-alcohol content – 0,05‰


Novice drivers, holders of a driving licence for less than two years and younger – under 21 years old – 0,00‰. This applies also to foreign drivers. If alcohol is detected in their blood, they are fined with 125 Euro, two penalty points and an extension of the probationary period of holding a driving licence for further two years.

A driver who has had a blood-alcohol content greater than 0,05‰ but not exceeding 0,09‰, is punished with a fine of:

  • 500 Euro for the first stop (plus the withdrawal of a driving licence for a period of one month + 4 penalty points)
  • 1000 Euro for the second stop
  • 1500 Euro for the third stop

The same penalties apply to driving under the influence of drugs.

A novice driver who has had a blood-alcohol content greater than 0‰ is fined with 125 Euro + 2 penalty points.


Examples of fines for some traffic offences:

  • incorrect parking – from 10 up to 40 Euro + 1 penalty point
  • not respecting the red light – from 90 up to 360 Euro + 4 penalty points + (possibly) the withdrawal of a driving licence for a period of 1 month
  • not using the seat belts – 30 Euro
  • speeding in a built-up area – from 15 up to 760 Euro + 1 up to 3 penalty points (an additional penalty may be the withdrawal of a driving licence for a period of 1 up to 3 months)

A police officer has the right to collect a fine in cash of up to 35 Euro. In relation to foreigners, a police officer may demand a bail, if refused – retain the vehicle. He/she may also withdraw the driving licence and write in it the period of the driving ban on the territory of Germany.

Any driver, foreigners included, shall be penalised by a penalty point system (1 – 7 points) and the data is sent to the Polish police.

Note: German law provides precisely the specified directory of offenses and penalties for each of them and therefore making the Polish driver’s attempts to discuss with the police about the fine imposed for an offense committed is pointless and causes deterioration of the person’s concerned situation. A refusal to settle up the fine on the spot involves bringing the matter to court. The police also rigorously controls the condition of the vehicle. In case of serious faults, the driver is to expect a retention of the driving license, a high fine, and being charged with the cost of towing the vehicle to a garage and with other administrative costs.

In winter time, in mountain areas, there is an obligation to be equipped with snow chains as well as to fit them on tires as indicated on road signs.


Dipped headlights: The use of dipped headlights at daytime is obligatory in case of poor visibility caused by bad weather conditions. Fog lights can be used if the visibility is reduced to 50m. The use dipped headlights is obligatory in all tunnels. Driving with parking lights on is prohibited. It is recommended to use dipped headlights outside built-up areas 24h throughout the year.


IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS:


Assistance breakdown service 01802-22-22-22 (provided 24h by the German automobilclub ADAC - STRASSENWACHT-HILFE).


the police - 110

the emergency - 112

road information – 0180-510 11 12